Christopher Hansen, a licensed professional counselor at Thriveworks in San Antonio, Texas, says facing your emotions is the best way to move forward.
“I realized that the anxiety of people who survived mass layoffs was almost as bad as the anxiety felt by people who lost their jobs, because they were stuck in purgatory and found themselves next on the chopping block. Because you wonder if you're there,” Hansen said. “It creates a lot of anxiety and anxiety.”
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Ambiguous and uncertain threats can be the most difficult part to deal with. However, Hansen says there are simple strategies you can use to deal with it, and even better, he adds, “it takes less than five minutes.”
The constant fear of being fired causes many people to fall into a vicious cycle of “stink thinking,” which Hansen describes as “constantly worrying about the worst-case scenario.” ing.
To stop negative thoughts about losing your job from swirling around, write them down. When you start to feel anxious, pay attention to where you are and what you are doing. It helps you identify what caused those feelings and your beliefs about the situation.
For example: “I just had a meeting and 10% of my staff lost their jobs. I'm now worried about losing my job and not being able to pay my rent.”
Hansen suggests replacing negative thoughts with positive, realistic affirmations. For example, “Just because his colleague was fired doesn't mean he'll lose his job tomorrow.”
Focusing on the present can ground you and help you feel more in control of your situation.
Recruiters and human resources experts recommend taking practical steps to help you feel more prepared for a potential layoff. Update your resume, set up job alerts on job sites, and seek advice from mentors and other experts.
Next, focus on hobbies, relationships, and interests that bring you joy outside of work. Hansen says simply finding a new TV show that piques your interest can be a powerful antidote to layoff anxiety.
“When you're exposed to that kind of stress, it can start to affect your personal life and relationships, and you can quickly lose your ability to enjoy other things,” he says. “But we are full human beings outside of the 9-to-5, and it's important to remind ourselves of that.”
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